Granite countertops are one of the most popular and commonly used countertops. But did you know that there are many types of granite kitchen countertops based on their shape. What are those types? To find out, keep on reading.
What Is Granite?
Granite is a great material for kitchen countertops. It is a very common and popular material. It is string, it is durable, it is resistant to heavy impact, heat and moisture. It is the strongest natural stone to exist. There is a sound variety of granite countertops, having different colors and design patterns. Mostly, granite has a darker color pallet and most of the types of granite are in darker color variants unlike marble countertops which are mostly white. The intricate designs and veining on the granite surface makes it look extremely beautiful and ethereal. The everlasting beauty of granite countertops is a great selling point for granite retailers.
Types Of Granite Countertops By Shape
For countertops, there are many different types of granite according to their shape. They are as follows:
Granite Slabs
One of the shape variants of granite countertops is a slab. Granite slabs are very common to be installed as kitchen countertops. The dimensions of a granite slab range from any desired length, but the thickness is mostly 2 cm to 3 cm. The Slabs are cut in the factories and then sent to retailers all around the world.
Afterwards, once the slabs are bought by the consumer, the installation team cuts the slabs into the shape of the countertops, on which the slabs have to be installed. As far as the pricing of the slab is concerned, it is dependent on the thickness of the slabs. The thicker the slab, the greater will be the price of the slab. If the slab has been cut carefully, then the seams can be well hidden, but it all depends on the grade and type of granite you are choosing.
Granite Tiles
Next type of granite which is also very commonly used in the kitchen as countertops is a granite tile. Tiles are not only great for countertops, but it can be used for flooring and bathroom fixtures as well. Because of its thin appearance, it can be easily installed as flooring anywhere. Granite flooring is mostly very common in the bathrooms.
Since tiles are thinner than slabs, the price is also less. So, if you are installing tiles countertops, then you will be saving a lot of money as well. The only downside to granite tiles, is the fact that the tile is very fragile. It can crack, chip and break very easily, under a small impact. So, care has to be taken to make sure that the tile lasts longer and doesn’t break. The installation of tiles is also very easy and can be done by yourself as well. So, you will save a lot of money in installation as well.
Modular Granite
Think of modular granite as a combination of tiles and slabs. The price of the tiles mixed with the look and appeal of a slab will give you modular granite. Modular granite is a great option for people who want granite countertops, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on the slabs, because, let’s be real, slabs are quite expensive. So, modular granite is a life saver for such people. It can also be installed by yourself, saving a lot more money.
Granite Overlays
Granite overlays are also a very good and easy to install option. It is basically a quarter of an inch thick sheet of granite, which is draped over your existing countertops. There is no need to remove older countertops, there is no need for an installation team. It is quite cost effective and it is cheaper than conventional granite slabs. You don’t need to be super precise to install overlays either. You just need some adhesive to stick the overlay on top of the old countertops and basically you’re done with installation.
There you go! So many different types of granite countertops to choose from. Contact with a granite installer Potomac to know which types they have and what are the installation charges so that you can make a full estimate.